Taper, taper!

First off, I have to mention again, that it's a great time to run right now.  My friend Tom took a couple pictures on our last run, and you can really appreciate the fall colors in all their glory.  Running is really enjoyable in these conditions, but there is also a 'business purpose', if you will, to my running right now.  That's right.  It's taper time!

There are lots of theories about tapering before a marathon.  I've always appreciated the last 20 mile run I do before the big race, which I usually do three weeks out.  That's because after working hard for months, I generally begin cutting back significantly on my mileage at that point.  The idea is to let my body recover.  It also recognizes that you won't get any training benefit in the last three weeks.

I read something not long ago, however, that suggested most training programs for average runners are done with the minimum of mileage in the first place, and most may taper too much, too soon. 

I don't know what I believe, and my experience hasn't really answered the question.  But I took it pretty easy the last couple weeks entering the final days before the New York Marathon on November 2.  During my last 'long run' this weekend at Waterfall Glen, I talked about the taper and strategy with my longtime running partner, and coach Rick Staback.  He reminded me of a former teammate who believed tapering too much hurt him phychologically.  If he went a few days without pushing himself, he lost some of his confidence in his ability to push it on race day.

That's probably human nature, and my mind works a little like that too.  Every time out in the last couple weeks, I put myself in the race in my imagination, and compare how I feel during a training run to how I might feel at some point in the marathon.  The reality is that I should pay no attention to how I feel on these runs, because there's really nothing I can do, and all that matters is how I feel on race day.  And race day is coming very soon now.

Meantime, there is all kinds of news on the local running scene.

First, you probably heard about Wesley Korir, who finished 4th overall in the Chicago marathon, but wasn't credited with the official 4th place finishers prize because he started with the pack, rather than five minutes earlier with the elites.  A similar situation happened in the Nike Women's marathon in San Francisco.  This time it was the winner, who ran nearly ten minutes faster than the elite winner, but started twenty minutes later.  In both cases, the organizers relented, and awarded a prize.  In Chicago, Carey Pinkowski is giving Korir, an unspecified prize and getting him to start with the elites next year. 

I understand the principal behind the rule.  If you are running specifically against the clock, you are not participating in the race with the other leaders, and responding to different race strategy.  But, the reality is, we keep times of our runs for a reason, whether it be the 100 meters, or the marathon, and we are all running in the same conditions, on the same course.  And world records count because of the time, even though they are broken in different races.

Also, two of my favorite races on the Chicago schedule, are under new ownership.  First, the Chicago Distance Classic is now history.  It was the oldest race in the city, but John Bingham has now sold the race to the Rock-N-Roll marathon people.  It will now be known at the Chicago Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon.  That should be a good race, but I'm sorry to see the CDC go.  I was involved as a spokesman for the race for several years when ABC-7 was a sponsor.  It's got a storied history, although the course has changed dramatically from year to year.  For several years, it went down State Street past ABC-7.  But progress can be good.  I've always wanted to run a Rock-N-Roll race, with the bands at every mile, and maybe now I will.

Also, the Lakefront 10 miler, which was owned by Universal Sole, will now be run by CARA.  I have done this race a couple times, but the schedule often conflicts for me in recent years.  It also generally goes on the same date as the Ravenswood 5k, which has grown in recent years.  The Lakefront 10 miler has gone the opposite direction.  Hopefully CARA can change the direction, and grow this race.

As for me, I'm gonna get some rest.  Gotta taper ya know?  I'll let you know how New York goes....

Comments

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I enjoy reading your blog - definitely keep it up! I have a blog where runners can review races and read about races others have completed. Once you've done New York, it would be great to get your review! www.raceraiders.com